Storing Sw?

[ajs2294]

Hey guys,

I have a quick question regarding the storage of saltwater for water changes. Is there a limit to the amount of time you can store mixed water, such as from fish stores? Also what is the proper way of storing water?

Just a question from curiosity...
Thanks,
AJS2294

 

[Donya]

Store it in a closed plastic container (or as closed as possible to prevent evaporation) and then aerate it a bit before use. I have stored water for several weeks that way. If the container isn't sealed well and the water has been around for that long, it's worth checking sg to see if it needs tweaking before use.

 

[ultimatebob]

Store it in a closed plastic container (or as closed as possible to prevent evaporation) and then aerate it a bit before use. I have stored water for several weeks that way. If the container isn't sealed well and the water has been around for that long, it's worth checking sg to see if it needs tweaking before use.

does storing for say 2 weeks alter the specific gravity by much? or does the sealing of the container have anything to do with nonevaporation and preserving it? also curious.

 

[Donya]

If the container is sealed up well, 2 weeks later you should see no change in the water since there will be effectively no evaporation and no interaction with the atmosphere. With an open container, how much the water chemistry changes and how much evaporation occurs will depend on the environment. It could be anywhere from undetectable in a humid room to quite a lot in a dry room with air circulation also affecting the outcome. Sometimes you can also see a small shift in pH and KH from carbonate equilibrium with the air, which is mainly an issue in rooms with high CO2 due to lack of air circulation.

 

[ultimatebob]

thats pretty cool. makes sense.